tmux-testing

What problem does it solve?

tmux-Based TUI Testing addresses the challenge of reliably testing text-based terminal interfaces by validating not only the output text but also ANSI styling, state transitions, and navigation flows in a deterministic, CI-friendly manner. The approach uses tmux sessions to drive TUIs, capture panes, and analyze results without relying on pixel-based rendering, enabling repeatable tests across environments.

Core Features & Use Cases

• Deterministic TUI test harness: Create and manage tmux sessions to drive keyboard input and verify panel content and ANSI styling.
• Comprehensive command references: Built-in helpers to start sessions, send input, capture output with or without ANSI codes, and assert states.
• CI-ready workflows: Scripted tests that can be integrated into CI pipelines, ensuring robust UI flows and regression coverage.
• Use Case: Validate a TUI that lets users navigate menus and selections by simulating keystrokes and asserting the selected item and resulting output.

Quick Start

Initialize a tmux session and run the tmux-testing scripts to verify TUI output.